MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Belz Enterprises announced that it has established Peabody Hotels &
Resorts, a hotel and resort management venture that will leverage the
ongoing success of the Peabody brand. The Memphis, Tennessee, based
company is moving into asset/brand management within the luxury hotel
segment and will begin seeking hotels in primary markets throughout the
U.S. to become Peabody-branded hotels, a distinction that comes with a
team of Peabody Marching Ducks.

Belz Enterprises will continue to own and operate The Peabody Memphis
just as it has since the Belz family purchased the historic hotel in
1975, restored and reopened it in 1981. “The Peabody Memphis will be the
flagship property of Peabody Hotels & Resorts, one that all future
hotels under our management will be modeled after," said Douglas V.
Browne, President, Peabody Hotels & Resorts.

The transition into hotel and resort brand management is a goal that
Belz Enterprises has been quietly working toward for the past few years.
“It's rewarding to see our plans finally coming to fruition,"
said Browne.

Moving forward, Peabody Hotels & Resorts will begin researching and
evaluating properties that have potential to
become a Peabody branded hotel. Under the management of Peabody Hotels &
Resorts, properties would not only take on the Peabody name, but adopt
the core standards, values and traditions such as the highly-regarded
Peabody Service Excellence® culture of service. Also, like the flagship
property, The Peabody Memphis, each hotel would become home to five
North American mallard ducks that would continue the 80-year tradition
of the March of the Peabody Ducks.

"We’ll be looking for independently-owned properties in the
full-service, luxury sector that are looking to gain a unique presence
within their market. We’re eager to work with hotel owners that want to
be partners in this process and see their properties fitting within the
Peabody brand and carrying the Peabody name. And, of course, that
includes our brand ambassadors, the world famous Peabody Marching
Ducks,” said Browne.

Browne also announced the promotion of Craig Smith, Director of Sales &
Marketing for The Peabody Memphis, to Vice President of Brand
Development for Peabody Hotels & Resorts. Smith is charged with
aggressively pursuing and vetting hotel properties that meet the
company’s requirements.